Steam vacuum refrigeration unit



April 11, 1961 F. D. BERKELEY lll STEAM VACUUM REFRIGERATION UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 50, 1959 m 2 M 6 w .l. F 3 5 W H 617/1 z m k M 7 2 3 m 6 2 K 2 w WH M F M W m April 11, 1961 F. D. BERKELEY m STEAM VACUUM REFRIGERATION UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 50, 1959 FIG.3

INVENTOR. fAfflfIf/CA 0. 556615167.

April 11, 1961 F. D. BERKELEY m 2,

STEAM VACUUM REFRIGERATION UNIT Filed July so, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet a FIGII M April 11, 1961 Filed July 50, 1959 F. D. BERKELEY lll STEAM VACUUM REFRIGERATION UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 11, 1961 F. D. BERKELEY m 2,978,880

STEAM VACUUM REFRIGERATION UNIT Filed July 30, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States atent O STEAM VACUUM nnrnronmnon UNIT Frederick D. Berkeley 111, Rochester, N.Y., assignor to Graham Manufacturing Co., Inn, Great Neck, NIL, a corporation of New York Filedlluly 30, 1959-,Se1'. No. 830,487

Claims. (Cl. 62268) This invention relates to improvements in steam vacuum refrigeration units.

The invention provides for substantially uniform liquid refrigerant flow through a multi-stage steam vacuum refrigerating unit while one or more stages may be operated to cool the liquid being discharged in each operating stage and in non-operating stages provision is made for conducting the fluid through by-pass connections automatically without the use of valves and valve control mechanism other than the controls for the evacuators, and at the same time maintain a high degree of efficiency in operation.

The invention provides a steam vacuum refrigeration unit wherein a plurality of cooling compartments each have an evacuator, a header, a liquid inlet connected to the header and a liquid outlet for conveying cooled liquid away from the compartments, in which the header for selected compartments is formed to discharge liquid into its compartment during operation of the evacuator therefor and to by-pass said liquid through a by-pass conduit to the bottom of the compartment when the evacuator for the compartment is rendered inoperative. The operation of the header in discharging the liquid refrigerant into its compartment for cooling or bypassing this liquid tothe bottom of the compartment is automatically controlled by operation or non-operation of the evacuator.

The advantages of the invention are in the elimination of automatic water valves, by-pass valves and other valves heretofore used for controlling liquid refrigerant flow through the inlet connections with the spray nozzles for each compartment, elimination of automatic controls for the valves and reduction of the cost of construction while obtaining automatic operation in a reliable and simplified manner. Another advantage is in the elimination of moving parts of the types previously used for controlling liquid-flow through the compartments.

The invention isuseful with both spray type and wier type refrigerationunitswhere the compartments may be arranged one above theother or where the compartments are arranged inside by side relation. The invention provides for liquid refrigerant flow through the several compartments in either series or in parallel.

The headerconstruction provided by the invention has a feeder chamber and a by-pass chamber in the upper end and at the lower end thereof has the chambers communicating with eachother and a liquid inlet connection. The upper end of the'feeder chamber has a liquid discharge opening. The upper end of the by-pass chamber has a by-pass opening communicating with a liquid bypass connection. Vent pipes connect the two header chambers with different compartments in the refrigeration unit to utilize the differences in pressure in the compartments to automatically control liquid flow through the header chambers so as. tocause flow through one or the other of the two chambers. The control of fluid flow through the two header chambers provides for continuous unobstructed'liquid refrigerant flow through a header and the refrigeration unit for cooling in the compartment containing the header, or for flow through the bypass connection toward the outlet without cooling treatment in the compartment.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a barometric type steam vacuum refrigeration unit having a plurality of compartments formed in a tubular casing one above the other.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the unit shown in Fig. 1 with portions shown in elevation for convenience in illustrating the invention.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section through the spray nozzle used on the lower end of a header with adjacent portions of the header showing how the nozzle is mounted.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section of a steam vacuum refrigeration unit having a pair of compartments showing how a plurality of compartments may be arranged in side by side relation, parts being shown in elevation and broken away for convenience in illustrating the invention.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 11--11 of Fig. 10.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views of a steam vacuum refrigerating unit in vertical cross-section constructed according to the invention; Fig. 12 showing all three compartments in operation for cooling liquid refrigerant in each compartment; Fig. 13 showing operation with one unit inoperative; and Fig. 14 showing operation with two units inoperative, for illustrating how liquid refrigerant flows between the inlet connections and the outlet connections in series and is automatically controlled by the multiple compartment construction of headers according to whether an evacuator is operating or has been rendered inoperative.

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are diagrammaticviews of a steam vacuum refrigerating unit in vertical cross-section constructed according to the invention; Fig. 15 showing all three compartments in operation for cooling liquid refrigerant in each compartment; Fig. 16 showing operation with one unit inoperative; and Fig. 17 showing operation with two units inoperative; for illustrating how liquid refrigerant flows between the inlet connections and the outlet connections in parallel and is automatically controlled by the multiple compartment construction of the headers according to whether an evacuator is operating or has been rendered inoperative.

Figs. 1 to- 6 inclusive of the drawings, show a baroetric type steam vacuum refrigeration unit generally similar to that shown in Patent 2,780,930, patented February 12, 1957. The refrigeration assembly provided by the present invention has a flash tank unit 1 formed by a cylindrical outer casing or shell 2. A plurality of transversely extending partitions 3 are mounted in spaced parallel relation within outer shell or casing 2 and suitably welded or otherwise secured thereto for dividing outer casing 2 into a plurality of flash tank compartments, or sections, or evaporator compartments 4, 5 and 6 respectively. A plurality of steam jet ejectors, or boosters, or evacuators 7, one for each compartment, are mounted on the outside of outer cylindrical shell 2 of the flash tank unit and connected so each ejector or evacuator will be operable to remove the vapor and create a vacuum in one of the compartments. The ejectors or evacuators are connected to a steam condenser which may be supported by the flash tank unit in the same manner as disclosed in the aforementioned patent.

The upper end of outer cylindrical shell 2 carries a cap 8 supporting a pipe 9 mounted on the upper end thereof for carrying a condenser, not'shown, of the character disclosed in the afore-rnentioned patent. A cooling liquid or liquid refrigerant inlet 10 is secured to the upper end of outer shell 2 and has suitable pipe connections with the apparatus to be cooled by the refrigerant liquid for returning the liquid from the apparatus-it has cooled to the flash tank unit for further cooling and recirculation. Outer cylindrical shell 2 has a liquid refrigerant or cooling liquid outlet 11 at the lower end for conducting the cooled liquid throughsuitable pipe connections to the apparatus to be cooled. A suitable control valve 12 is provided in the cooling liquid inlet pipe so that the flow of cooling liquid to the flash tank may be shut off when desired. 7 v

A header formed of a feed pipe or inlet pipe connection 13 is mounted on partition 3 forming the top of bottom compartment 4, as shown in Fig. 2, and carries a spray nozzle 14 at the lower end. Feed pipe 13 receives cooled liquid refrigerant or cooling fluid from compartment so that it may flow through feed pipe 13 to spray nozzle 14 for spraying outwardly and downwardly toward the inner sides of outer shell 2 within compartment 4. When evacuator 7 for compartment 4 is operating, it will remove the vapor and reduce the pressure within compartment 4 and thereby remove'heat from the water being sprayed from spray nozzle 14 for cooling this water as it passes through compartment 4 to the bottom thereof and outwardly through cooling liquid outlet 11.

Selected compartments 5 and 6, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, have a header generally indicated at 15 mounted in partitions 3 forming the upper ends of compartments 5 and 6 respectively, and having the lower ends of the headers terminating in the respective compartments 5 and 6. These headers are an important part of the present invention and each comprise a plurality of spaced upright walls or spaced tube sections. As shown in Fig. 2, for example, each header has an outer tubular wall 16 arranged in upright relation, an inner tubular member 17 arranged in concentric relation within outer tubular wall or pipe section 16 and an intermediate tubular member or pipe section 18 arranged between inner and outer walls or tubular members 16 and 17.

Intermediate tubular member or pipe section 18 divides the space between inner and outer tubular members 16 and 18 so as to form a feeder chamber 19 about the inner upper end of the header and inner tubular member 17 and by-pass chamber 20 within outer casing 16 on the outer side of intermediate pipe section 18. A top plate 21 has the upper ends of intermediate and outer tubular members 16 and 18 secured thereto while the lower end of outer casing 16 is closedby bottom plate 22 having a central opening receiving the lower end of inner tubular member or feeder pipe 17. The lower end of inner tubular member or feeder pipe 17 is open through the opening in bottom plate 22 so that liquid discharged into the upper end of feeder pipe 17 will flow downwardly and be discharged into the compartment in which the header is mounted.

A spray nozzle 23 is mounted on the lower end of inner tubular member 17 and bottom plate 22 for spraying the water outwardly against the inner sides of outer shell-2 in the operation of the unit. The upper end of inner tubular member or feeder pipe 17 terminates in spaced relation below top plate 21 so the cooling liquid 4 spray nozzle 23 during the operation of the refrigeration unit for cooling liquid in the compartment in which the header is mounted.

The upper end of each header 15 is arranged in partition 3 so that it extends above the partition in which it is mounted into the compartment above the one which the header serves and has top plate 21 of the header located in the compartment above the partition. It will be understood, however, that the header may be mounted entirely within its compartment so that it will be sus pended from partition 3 in which it is mounted. The illustration shown in Fig. 2 with the header for compartments 5 and 6 extending above the partition forming the upper end of the compartments, provides a means for obtaining a more eflicient and economical construction of a flash tank having a plurality of flash compartments within the outer shell.

The lower end of intermediate tubular member or pipe section 18 terminates in spaced relation above bottomplate 22 so that communication is provided at the lower end between feeder chamber 19 and by-pass chamber 20. An inlet pipe connection 24 is secured to the lower end of the outer tubular wall 16 of each header 15 for con: nection with cooling liquid inlet 10 either directly or indirectly so that liquid refrigerant returnedfrom the ap paratus being cooled by the operation of the unit is supplied directly to the headers for circulation therethrough during the operation of the flash tank unit. The cooling liquid flowing intothe headers through inlet pipe connections 24 will flow into both the feeder and by-pass chambers and upwardly therein for discharge outwardly from the header at the top portion either from the feeder chamber through feeder pipe or inner tubular member 17, or through by-pass chamber 20 in a manner that will be hereinafter described. Each header has a by-passrconduit or connection 25, mounted in one of the partitions 3 and arranged for receiving cooling liquid from the upper end of by-pass chamber 20 of the header. By-pass conduit 25 may be directly connected to outer tubular wall 16 of the header at the upper end thereof adjacent top plate 21, as shown in Fig. 2, or arranged in any-suitable manner, so that it will receive cooling liquid discharged from the upper end of by-pass chamber 20 inthe header. The lower end of by-pass conduit 25, as shown in Fig. 2, extends downwardly to the bottom portion of the compartment in which the header is mounted for discharging cooling liquid from the header at the bottom of the com-. partment. By-pass conduit 25 co-operates with.by-pass chamber 20 so that when cooling liquid flows therethrough it does not flow infceder chamber 19 and is not sprayed into the compartment through spray nozzle 23, but is operated to by-pass the spray nozzle to eliminate cooling may flow from the bottom of the header upwardly within intermediate tubular member or pipe section 18 to the top of the feeder chamber 19 and be discharged into the compartment incasing 2 through feeder pipe 17 and or other treatment within the selected compartment. A vent pipe or connection 26 is provided between the upper end of feeder chamber 19 in the header and the upper end of the compartment in which the header operates so that the pressure in the upper end of the header above liquid therein will be equalized with the pressure in the upper end of its compartment. Another vent pipe connection 27 is made between the upper end of by-pass chamber 20 in each of the headers 15 and the lowermost compartment 4 in flash tank casing 1, as shown in Fig. 2. This provides for equalizing the pressure between compartment 4 and the by-pass chambers of each header 15 in compartments 5 and 6, as shown in Fig. 2. An antiswirl plate 29 is mounted in the upper end of inner feeder pipe 17 of each of the headers for controlling liquid flow through pipe 17 for obtaining efficient spraying of liquid in each compartment.

Spray nozzles 14 and 23 may be of any suitable construction well known in the art. A spray nozzle particularly suited for operation with headers 15 and feed pipe or header 13 is shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive.- This spray nozzle includes a supporting plate 30, as shown in Fig. 7, having a central aperture for the passage of liquid from inner tubular member orfeeder pipe 17. A cone or funnel member 31 is secured to supporting plate 30 about the aperture therein and extends upwardly inside feeder pipe 17 for directing liquids through the aperture in plate 30. An upper spray member 32, an intermediate spray member 33 and a bottom spray member 34 are mounted in spaced relation one below another and suspended from supporting plate 30 by a plurality of ribs 35. Short'ribs 36 arranged intermediate ribs 35 connect upper and intermediate spray members 32 and 33 together. The upper face of spray members 32, 33 and 34 are of conical shape. Upper spray member 32has an opening formed in the center portion thereof in aligned relation below the aperture in supporting plate 30 and slightly smaller. than the aperture in plate t 30. Intermediate spray member 33 is similar in construction to upper spray member 32 but with a smaller opening than that provided in spray member 3 2, While bottom spray member. 34 has an upper solid conical face. In this way, liquid flowing downwardly through feeder pipe 17 will flow through the aperture in supporting plate 30. Portions of this liquid discharged through the aperture in supporting plate 30 will pass through the aperture in spray members 32 and 33 so that the inner portion of the liquid stream will engage the upper conical face of lower spray member 34 and be sprayed outwardly in all directions thereby. The outer portions of the liquid stream will be successively sprayed outwardly by the upper conical faces of spray members 32 and 33, respectively. With this type of construction, liquid discharged through feeder pipe 17 will be efficiently divided up and sprayed outwardly in downwardly extending angular relation toward the side walls of each compartment in which the header is mounted for securing evaporation and cooling therein when the evacuator or booster for the compartment is operating. 1

Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive show the three compartments one above the other in the outer cylindrical shell and, as indicated above, are designed to operate as a barometric type refrigeration unit in which the barometric condenser is supported above the flash tank in a manner disclosed by the aforementioned patent. A typical construction of refrigerating unit of the character shown in Figs. 1 to 6, may have the cooling liquid or liquid refrigerant flow through the headers and the compartments in series, as indicated in Fig. 2, for example. The flash tank or outer cylindrical shell with the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2, may have an approximate outside diameter of 48 inches with the outer tubular wall of the header having an outside diameter of approximately 11 inches. The intermediate tubular member or pipe section would then have an outside diameter of approximately 8 /2 inches while the inner tubular member would have an outside diameter of approximately 5 /2 inches. The header would have a vertical dimension of approximately 4 feet. In a unit of this character, it is well known that there must be a minimum of 34 feet from the bottom connection on the barometric condenser to the liquid level in the hot well to provide for the barometric leg. The height of each compartment and the flash tank unit, including the three compartments, is proportioned in accordance with these considerations so that each compartment will be in the neighborhood of 7 feet high in a unit having the other dimensions or proportions given hereinabove.

Figs. 12. to 14 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating how a unit constructed in accordance with the 'disclosure in Figs. 1 to 6 will operate according to the invention. The same numerals are used in Figs. 12 to 14, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, to illustratethe corresponding parts. Fig. 12 shows the operation with all three boosters or evacuators in operation. When all three evacuators or boosters are operating, water will spray through all three flash tank compartments. Where the temperature in the flash tank is approximately 46 degrees Fahrenheit, each flash tank or compartment will have an absolute pressure in the compartment of approximately 7.9 millimeters of mercury. With this pressure in each compartment, the pressure in each of the feeder andbypass chambers in headers 15 will be the same as the cornpartment served by the header. The cooling liquid will therefore be sprayed througheach compartment since the water will enter the bottom of each header 15 and flow through feeder chamber 19 over the top of inner tubular or discharge member 17 and downwardly through the lower end and be sprayed outwardly'by spray nozzle 23. The cooling liquid to each header will enterthrough liquid inlet connection 24 for the header and it will be noted that no cooling liquid will flow through the bypass chamber and by-pass outlet to the by-pass conduit.

Fig. 13 illustrates a condition where the booster for compartmentfi has been shut off and rendered inoperative. The pressure in compartment 6 will then increase to approximately the same pressure as that in the condenser. Under these conditions the condenser pressure will become approximately 44 millimeters of mercury absolute. This pressure will be communicated to the upper end of feeder chamber 19 in header 15 for com.- partment 6 through vent pipe 26. The lower pressure in compartment 4 communicated by vent pipe 27 to the upper end of bypass chamber 20 in theheader for compartment 6 with the higher pressure in the feeder chamber will cause the water in the feeder chamber to drop to a lower level than the upper end of inner tubular member or feeder pipe 17, as indicated in Fig. 13, while the water level in by-pass chamber 20 will rise so that cool ing water will flow outwardly through the by-pass cham' her into by-pass conduit or connection 25 and downwardly to by-pass feeder chamber 19, feeder pipe 17 and spray nozzle 23 into the lower end of the compartment under the level of the cooling liquid in the bottom of the compartment.

When the booster for compartment 5 is shut off or rendered inoperative, the pressure in compartment 5, as shown in Fig. 14, will rise to the same pressure as compartment 6 which will be substantially the same as the condenser pressure. Due to the decrease in steam load to the condenser, the pressure in the condenser and compartments 5 and 6 -will become approximately 37.5 millimeters of mercury absolute. The water level in the headers in compartments 5 and 6 will be depressed below the upper end of inner tubular member or feeder conduit 17 while the level of the water in by-pass chambers 20 for both headers 15 in compartments 5 and 6 will rise so that the water will flow outwardly from the header through by-pass connections 25 to the bottom of the respective compartments under the level of cooling liquid therein. As explained above, this change in level is obtained by reason of the lower pressure in compartment 4 which is applied through vent pipes 27 to the upper end of by-pass chambers 20 in each header 15. In this way, no cooling water is sprayed in flash tank compartments 5 and 6 so that the liquid refrigerant passing through the headers is by-passed through the by-pass chambers and connections to the bottom flash compartment 4 Without being cooled in compartments 5 and 6 and without being subjected to any heat that may remain in compartments 5 and 6 after the boosters are cut off by reason of some steam vapor that may back up into the compartments through the booster openings.

It will be understood from the disclosure in Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive, that whether all three flash tank compartments are operating to cool liquid refrigerant, or whether only one or two are operating, headers 15 operate automatically upon the control of the boosters or evacuators to by-pass the water in the headers by stopping flow through the feeder chambers out through the spray nozzles and starting flow into the by-pass chambers and through the by-pass conduits, or other similar connections. Liquid refrigerant will be-pass the header feeder chambers and the compartments that are inoperative due Fahrenheit in the bottom compartment.

ing therein.

to the boosters being cut off without treatment therein. The flow of liquid refrigerant under all conditions is maintained at a substantially uniform rate. In this way, variations in the amount of refrigerant liquid required for cooling of equipment supplied by the refrigeration unit can be efficiently handled through the operation of one or more of the three compartments.

The unit described above will operate to cool liquid refrigerant from a temperature of approximately 66 degrees Fahrenheit where it enters the unit through inlet connection 10 to approximately 46 degrees Fahrenheit where the liquid refrigerant leaves the unit through outlet connection 11. When all three compartments are operating, the liquid refrigerant may be cooled from 66 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 59 degrees Fahrenheit, in top compartment, to approximately 53 degrees Fahrenheit in compartment 5, and to approxmately 46 degrees When the inlet water temperature to the top compartment decreases due to either a reduced heat load in the equipment being cooled by the refrigeration unit, or other parts of the system, the evacuators or boosters may be cut off one at a time in accordance with the variations in temperature to obtain the desired cooling of the liquid refrigerant.

The dimensions and figures hereinabove given in connection with the description of the unit illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 and the operation diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14 are approximate and are given for the purpose of illustrating the approximate operation of a unit of the character illustrated. A refrigeration unit of this type will have a refrigerant liquid flow at the inlet to the unit of approximately 360 gallons per minute with a cooling capacity of approximately 300 tons of refrigeration.

The unit disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6 and 12 to 14, inclusive, is shown with the arrangements made for series flow of the water through each compartment from top compartment 6 to bottom compartment 4.

Reference to Figs. 15 to 17, inclusive, shows diagrammatically a construction substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 in which cooling liquid inlet 10 has direct connection with each header to supply the headers for each compartment in parallel relation to each other. This parallel connection provides an inlet pipe connection 40 from main inlet 10 to each header in each of the three compartments, as shown in Fig. 15, for example. The by-pass conduits or connections from each of the headers 15 will be extended, as shown in Figs. 15

to 17, to the bottom portion of the lowermost compartment 4 in the unit. In addition, another change will be made in the construction, as shown in Fig. 2, by adding cooling liquid discharge pipes 42, as shown in Figs. 15 to 17, from each of compartments 5 and 6 for the liquid cooled therein to flow directly to the lower portion of compartment 4 and provide parallel flow of cooling liquid through all three compartments. With the operation disclosed in Fig. 15, for example, where all three compartments are connected for operation in parallel and "all three boosters are in operation, the pressure in each compartment is the same, so that cooling liquid from each inlet will pass through the feeder chamber of each header and be sprayed through the compartment for cool- In parallel operation of the character, as shown in Fig. 15, each compartment will cool approximately one-third of the liquid refrigerant supplied to the unit through cooling liquid inlet 10. 'Each compartment when operating in parallel will reduce the temperature of the portion of the cooling liquid sprayed therein from the approximate 66 degree temperature at the inlet to the approximate 46 degree temperature at the outlet. Whenever the amount of refrigeration required by the apparatus supplied by the refrigeration unit is reduced to a sufficient extent, the booster for compartment 6 will be cut 011'.

The difference in pressure within compartment 6, as ex plaiued above in connection with the operation in Fig. .75 the compartment by any suitable means such as vent 12, will cause the liquid flow through the header in compartment 6 to automatically change, as the booster is cut off, so the liquid will then flow through the .by-pass chamber and bypass connection to the lower end of compartment 4. When the upper compartment booster is cut off, the liquid refrigerant will not have its temperature reduced as much, due to the feeding of the liquid into the unit at a lower temperature. In this way, the remaining two compartments will operate to reduce the temperature of the cooling liquid sufliciently so that the liquid leaving the outlet from the unit will be reduced to the 46 degree temperature for which the unit may be designed to operate. If still less refrigeration is required, the boosters for both compartments 5 and 6 will be cut off so liquid in headers 15 for both compartments will fiow through the by-pass chambers and by-pass conduit 25 to bottom compartment 4.

Orifice plates 43 may be inserted in the inlet pipe connections 40 to control liquid flow into each header so that it will-have an equal proportion of the liquid from inlet pipe 10 into each header. 1

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate how the invention is applied to a refrigeration unit wherein the flash tank has the compartments arranged side by side instead of one above the other as previously described. The refrigeration unit has a flash unit formed with an outer shell 45 which may be of rectangular shape, as illustrated, or circular. The shell is divided by a pair of transversely extending spaced partitions 46 which extend vertically in the casing from a point spaced slightly above the bottom of the casing to the top thereof. The partitions are spaced to reduce or eliminate heat transfer through the partitions. A booster or evacuator is provided for each compartment provided in the casing by the partitions which is indicated at 47 diagrammatically. With a horizontal unit, the

boosters and condensers will probably be arranged inv horizontal relation rather than in vertical relation, as in the unit shown in Figs. 10, and 1 to 6, inclusive. The evacuators are connected to a condenser in a manner well known in the art which is not shown in connection with Figs. 10 and 11. A liquid refrigerant inlet 48 has a pair of branches one extending into each of the compartments 49 and 50, respectively, where the free end is connected with the header 51 in compartment 50 and the header 52 in compartment 49.

Header 51 has an outer tubular wall 53, an intermediate tubular wall 54 and an inner tubular member 55 forming the discharge member or pipe for the header. The header 51 has the inner member 55, the intermediate member 54 and outer wall 53 arranged in spaced concentric relation and attached to one partition wall 46. The upper ends of outer and intermediate members 53 and 54 are secured to the top wall of compartment 50. Header 51 is approximately a one-half section of the header construction 15 shown in Fig. 2. Inner tubular member 55 terminates in spaced relation below the upper or top portion of the header and cooperates with intermediate tubular wall 54 to form a feeder chamber 56. Intermediate tubular Wall 54 and outer tubular wall 53 cooperate to form a bypass chamber 57. Intermediate wall or member 54 terminates in spaced relation above bottom plate 58 on header 51 so that the connection of liquid inlet pipe 48 to the lower end of outer wall 53 of header 51 will provide for liquid flow into the bottom portion of both the feeder and by-pass chambers. Bottom' plate 58 of header 51 carries a spray nozzle indicated at 59 which is formed in the same manner as one half-section of the spray nozzle shown in Figs. 7 to 9 for spraying liquid entering the spray nozzle from inner discharge pipe 55 across and to the sides of compartment 50 when the compartment is in operation for cooling liquid.

Header 51 may have the feeder chamber 56 formed to have the upper end in communication with compartment 50 above the liquid level in both the header and pipe 60 for equalizing the pressure between compartment 50 and feeder chamber 56 inthe header. Byspass com: partment 57 will have a suitable arrangement such as vent pipe 61 connecting the upper end above the liquid level therein with compartment 49 at the upper end thereof for equalizing the pressure between the by-pass chamber and compartment 49. A bypass conduit 62 is. connected to header 51 at the upper endof outer tubular wall 53. to communicate with by-pass chamber 57 for conveying liquid from the by-pass chamber to the lower end of compartment 50 to bypass nozzle 59 and avoid treatment within the compartment when booster 47 for compartment 50 is shut off.

Header 52 for compartment 49.has a bottom plate 63, an .inner tubular member or discharge pipe 64 and an outer tubular wall 65. Inner tubular member '64 and outer wall 65 .are both secured to bottom plate 63 and at their opposite side edges are secured to one partition wall=46 to 'form a half header section of. the type generally shownin Figs. 1 to 6 from which the intermediate ortpartition wall has been omitted. The upper ends of both .inner dischargepipe 64 and outer wall 65are spaced below the top wall of flash tank 45, as shown in Fig;

10. Outer wall 65 terminatesac'loser to the top wall of flash tank 45 than inner tubular member 64. In this way, pressure above the liquid level in the header 52vis equalized with the pressure in compartment 49; A branch of liquid inlet pipe 48 isconnected to the lower end of outer wall 65, as shownlin Fig. 10, for conveying liquid from the inlet to header 52 and the feeder compartrnentformed between inner and outer walls 64 and 65. A spray .nozzle 66 formedof a half-section similar to spray nozzle 59 is mountedlon bottom plate 63 and partition 46 in .thesame manner as spray nozzle 59 for spraying liquid discharged through discharge pipe or inner member 164 through the spray nozzle downwardly and outwardly toward the side Walls of the. flash tank in compartment 49. This provides for thespraying of the liquid in compartment 49 for cooling therein when booster 47 for compartment 49 is in operation. Flash tank 45 "has :a liquid refrigerant outlet 671 forconveying cooled liquid away. from the refrigeration unit; Thetoperation of' lthe iunit shown in Figs. 10 and 11 will be substantially the same as that shown :in Figs. 15 and 17 due to the fact thatthe unit shown in Figs. 10 and 11 shows ltwo stages operating in parallel relation to each other the sameasthe threeoomparmentunits shown in Figs. lto' 17. Obviously, the operation of Figs. 15 to 17 couldwbe duplicated in Figs. l0 and 11 by adding a third compartment similar :to compartment 50. In this way, three compartments would be provided in theunit having the compartments sid-eby side. However, it is deemed sufiicient to illustrate only two compartments operating in the'sametmanneras the bottom two compartments in Figs. 15 to 17 to illustrate the application of the invention to a refrigeration unit having the compartments in side by side relation.

It? will be understood "that whenever booster or evacuator 47 for compartment 50 and the evacuator for compartment 49 are in operation, cooling liquid from inlet "48 willpass through the two branch inlets to the headers '51 and '52 and be sprayed into the compartments for cooling therein. The cooling liquid will flow through the feeder chamber 56 in header 51 for discharge through spray nozzle 59 While cooling liquid in compartment 49 will be sprayed through the header and spray nozzle 66. Whenever the amount of cooled liquid required by the system operating in conjunction with the refrigeration unit shown in Figs; and 11 is reduced so that the operation of a single compartment will be sufficient to cool the liquidto the desired temperature, booster or evacuator 47 for compartment 50 may be automatically cut off. This will cause the liquid level in header 51 to change so that it will drop in feeder-chamber 56 below :theupper end of inner tubular member or discharge pipe 55 because of the increase in pressure in compartment 50. r The lower pressure in compartment 49 being come municated through vent pipe 61 to bypass chamber "57 will cause the liquid entering header 51 to flow through bypass chamber 57 and into by-pass conduit 62 to the bottom of the refrigeration unit under the liquid level therein so as to by-pass spray nozzle 59 and be free from treatment in compartment 50, in the same manner as explained in connection with the operation of the invention as hereinbefiore described. It will also be understood that compartments arranged in horizontal relation may be operated in series by changing the flow of liquid in the inlet 48 and from each compartment to the header in another compartment in serial order for series opera.- tion instead of parallel operation.

In a refrigeration system incorporating the invention, as hereinabove describedand shown in the several figures in the drawing, it will be understood that if all of the boosters to all of the compartments are shut olf, the cooling liquid will flow through all of the compartments because thepressure in all of the compartments will be equal. With all of the evacuators shut off, the flow would therefore be through all compartments as illustrated diagrammatically inFigs. 12 and 15. The flow would be through both headers in a construction as shown in Fig. 10 and through both spray nozzles 59 and 66 where both evacuators 47 are shut off in the construction illustrated in Fig. 10. Whenever one or more of the evacuators are turned on for operation, the operation for one or more compartments will then re-establish treatment of the coolingliquid in the manner hereinabove described and disclosed in-the several figures of the drawing.

It should be clear from the above description that a refrigerating unit having two or more compartments with headers constructed as hereinabove described will operate to cool liquid refrigerant to a desired degree in one or more compartments according to the control of the cvacuators which automatically change operation of the headers and liquid flow therethrough without the addition of control valves or automatic control means of any kind, without moving parts requiring periodic servicing and yet maintain substantially uniform cooling liquid flow through the refrigerating unit compartments and headers in an efficient manner. The invention provides a more economical unit to construct, assemble and operate than has been heretofore provided.

The invention claimed is:

1. A steam vacuum refrigeration unit, comprising a plurality of flash tank compartments, a header mounted in the upper end of at least one of said compartments, said header having a plurality of spaced walls extending upwardly from a bottom portion and cooperatingto form a feeder chamber and a by-pass chamber, said walls being arranged at the bottom portion of the header to provide communication between said chambers, said by-pass chamber being closed at the top, a vent establishing communication between said by-pass chamber and another of said compartments, said feeder chamber opening at the top into said one of said compartments, a cooling liquid. inlet connected to an intermediate portion of said header for supplying cooling liquid to said chambers, a cooling liquid outlet for conducting cooling liquid away from said compartments, a cooling liquid by-pass connected to the upper end of said header and communicating with said bypass chamber for conducting fluid from said by pass chamber in said header toward said cooling liquid outlet, and means for producing a vacuum individually in each of said chambers, whereby said means for producing vacuum for said one of said compartments will cause cooling liquid to flow into said feeder chamber and into said one of said compartments for being cooled during operation and when operation of said compartments. 7

chamberand cooling liquid by-pass in said one of said 2; A steam vacuum refrigerationunit comprising a plurality of flash tank compartments, means for each compartment individually operable to maintain a vacuum in its compartment for cooling liquid therein, a header mounted inthe upper end of at least one of said compartments, said header having a bottom portion, a top portion, an outer wall connecting said top and bottom portions, a feeder conduit spaced inwardly from said outer wall mounted on said bottom portion and opening at the bottom into its compartment, the upper end of said feeder conduit terminating in spaced relation below said top portion, a partition member spaced from and between said outer wall and feeder conduit in said header, extending downwardly from said top portion, spaced from said bottom portion, forming a feeder chamber in the upper portion of said header communicating with said feeder conduit, a by-pass chamber in the upper portion of said header between said partition member and outer wall, and terminating below the upper end of said feeder conduit to provide communication between said chambers in the lower portion of said header, means establishing communication between said feeder chamber and the compartment in which said header is located to equalize pressure therebetween, means establishing communication between said by-pass chamber and another of said compartments, a by-pass conduit communicating with the upper end of said by-pass chamber in said header for liquid flow through said header toward a cooling liquid outlet, a cooling liquid outlet for conducting cooled liquid away from said compartments, and a cooling liquid inlet connected to an intermediate portion of said header for supplying cooling liquid to said compartments, whereby when said first-mentioned means provides a vacuum in each compartment, cooling liquid entering the header will flow through said feeder chamber and feeder conduit for discharge into the compartment containing said header for. cooling therein through cooperation of said second-mentioned means with said feeder chamber to cause liquid flow through said feeder conduit into the compartment, and when said first-mentioned means for said one of said compartments is shut off while said means in said another of said compartments continues to maintain a vacuum therein, cooling liquid in said header is caused to cease flowing through said feeder conduit and start flowing through said by-pass chamber and bypass conduit through cooperation of said secondmentioned and third-mentioned means in providing said feeder chamber with a higher pressure than said by-pass chamber.

3. A steam vacuum refrigerating apparatus, compris- I ing a plurality of evaporator compartments for chilling a liquid refrigerant therein, an evacuator for each compartment for removing vapor therefrom, a liquid refrigerant outlet for discharging chilled liquid refrigerant provide bottom and top portions connected by'a plurality of spaced wall portions cooperating to form a feeder chamber and a by-pass chamber having communication therebetween at the bottom portion of said header, said feeder chamber having an outlet at the top portion of the header communicating with and discharging liquid refrigerant into its compartment for cooling during operation of said evacuator for said compartment, a liquid bypass conduit communicating with said by-pass chamber in said header for conveying liquid from said header toward said liquid refrigerant outlet without cooling in said compartment, a vent connection between said by-pass chamber in said header and said one of said compartuid refrigerant and cause said liquid refrigerant to how through said by-pass chamber in said header and through saidliquid by-pass conduit toward said outlet while maintaining substantially constant liquid refrigerant flow through said apparatus.

4'. A steamvacuum refrigerating apparatus, comprising a casing, partition means dividing said casing into a plurality of compartments, a liquid refrigerant spray in one compartment, a header for each of other selected compartments mounted therein, each header being formed with a feeder chamber opening into its compartment at the top portion, each header having a by-pass'chamber communicating at the lower end with the lower end of said feeder chamber, a spray nozzle on the bottom of each header for receiving liquid refrigerant from said feeder chamber top portion and spraying it outwardly from said header'through its compartment, an evacuator for each compartment for reducing pressure thereinand removing vapor therefrom to cool liquid refrigerant flowing through said compartment, inlet connections for supplying liquid refrigerant to the lower portion of each header and said liquid refrigerant spray for circulation through said feeder and bypass chambers, a vent connection between the feeder chamber of each header and the compartment in which it is mounted for equalizing pressure therebetween, a vent connection between each by-pass chamber and said one compartment for equalizing pressure in the by-pass chamber of each header and said one compartment, a by-pass connection between the upper end of each by-pass chamber and at least the bottom portion of the compartment for said header, and an outlet for carrying cooled liquid refrigerant away from said casing communicating with at least one of said compartments, whereby liquid refrigerant will flow through all of said headers and said spray when all of said evacuators are in operation to spray into each compartment for cooling therein and when any of said evacuators in compartments containing said headers are rendered inoperative, the difference in pressure in said chambers of the header in the inoperative compartment is communicated thereto by said vent connections to cause liquid refrigerant to stop flowing in said feeder chamber and to flow in said by-pass chamber and through said by-pass connection toward said outlet in the compartment having the inoperative evacuator for maintaining substantially uniform liquid refrigerant flow through said apparatus.

5. A steam vacuum refrigerating apparatus, comprising an outer shell, a plurality of partitions mounted in spaced relation in said shell and dividing said shell into a plurality of compartments, a plurality of evacuators mounted on said shell, one for evacuating each compartment, headers mounted 'on said partitions, one in each of selected compartments, spray means mounted on one of said partitions in another of said compartments, a liquid refrigerant inlet having portions. for supplying liquid refrigerant to the lower portion of each header and to said spray means, said header having a plurality of spaced walls extending upwardly from the lower portion ant from said feeder chamber into the compartment in which it is mounted, by-pass means communicating with the upper portion of said by-pass chamber for conveying liquid refrigerant through the compartment for said header to the bottom thereof, a vent connection between the top portion of each feeder chamber and its compartment, a vent connection between the top portion of each by-pass chamber and said another of said compartments, and an outlet for liquid refrigerant connected to said outer shell for conveying liquid away from said shell, whereby liquid refrigerant will flow from said inlet through said headers and spray means when all of said evacuators are in operation and will be discharged from said spray means and feeder chambers through said means at the upper portions of said headers into said compartments for cooling, and said liquid refrigerant will flow through said by-pass chamber in any of said headers and through said by-pass means instead of said feeder chamber when said evacuator for a compartment containing a header is rendered inoperative, without interfering with liquid refrigerant flow through said shell between said inlet and outlet.

6. A steam vacuum refrigerating apparatus, comprising an outer shell, partition means dividing said shell into a plurality of compartments, an evacuator for each compartment mounted on said shell, headers mounted on said partition means one in each of selected compartments, each header having a plurality of upright tubular members mounted in spaced relation one within the other and cooperating to form a feeder chamber and a by-pass chamber, a bottom member closing the bottom of said chambers secured to the lower ends of said tubular members, a top member secured to said tubular members closing the top of said chambers, said tubular members being formed to provide communication at the lower portion of said header between said chambers, a liquid refrigerant inlet connection for supplying liquid to the bottom portion of each header for flow into said feeder and by-pass chambers, each header being formed with a liquid discharge at the upper end of said feeder chamber for discharging liquid refrigerant into the compartment for said header for cooling therein, a by-pass connection communicating with the top portion of said by-pass chamber in each header for conveying liquid to the bottom of said selected compartment, a vent connection between said feeder chamber in each header and its compartment for equalizing pressure therebetween, a vent connection between said by-pass chamber in each header and another of said compartments, and a liquid refrigerant outlet connected with said casing for conveying cooled liquid away from said casing, whereby liquid refrigerant will flow through each header feeder chamber and be discharged into the compartment containing said header for cooling therein when the evacuator for said compartment is in operation and when an evacuator for a selected compartment is rendered inoperative, while the evacuator for said another compartment continues operation, liquid in said header in said selected compartment will cease flowing through said feeder chamber and will start flowing through said by-pass chamber and bypass conduit and flow through said selected compartment containing said header without cooling therein, said flow through said by-pass chamber being obtained as a result of the difference in pressure between said another compartment and said compartment containing said header through said vent connections.

7. A steam vacuum refrigerating apparatus, comprising an outer shell, partition means dividing said shell into a plurality of compartments, an evacuator for each compartment connected with said casing, a header mounted in the upper end of a selected compartment, said header having a plurality of spaced tube sections mounted within one another in substantially concentric relation to form an inner feeder chamber and an outer by-pass chamber, said tube sections forming an inner discharge passage in said header communicating at the upper portion with said feeder chamber, a bottom plate closing the bottom of said feeder and by-pass chambers, means closing the top of '14 said feeder and by-pass chambers, said tube sections being formed to provide communication between said chambers at the bottom portion of said header, a liquid refrigerant inlet connection with the bottom of said header for supplying liquid to said chambers, a by-pass connection with said header communicating with the top portion of said by-pass chamber for conveying fluid therefrom to the bottom of said selected compartment, a vent connection between said selected compartment and said feeder chamber for equalizing pressure therebetween, a vent connection between said by-pass chamber and another compartment for equalizing pressure therebetween, a spray nozzle mounted on the bottom of said header for receiving liquid discharged through said inner discharge passage and spraying it outwardly from said header through said selected compartment, and atliquid outlet for conveying liquid away from said casing, whereby when the evacuators for said compartments are in operation, liquid will flow through said feeder chamber and inner discharge passage for spraying and cooling in said selected compartment and when said evacuator for said selected compartment is rendered inoperative, the difference in pressure between said compartments will cause liquid to cease flowing in said feeder chamber and cause liquid flow in said by-pass chamber and by-pass connection toward said liquid outlet.

8. A header for steam vacuum refrigerating apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced upright walls, top and bottom plates secured to selected upright walls and cooperating therewith to form a feeder chamber and a bypass chamber, said walls being formed to provide communication at the bottom portion between said chambers, said walls having discharge openings at the top of said chambers, a liquid inlet connection with the lower end of said header, and a by-pass opening at the upper end of said header in communication with said by-pass chamber.

9. A header for steam vacuum refrigerating apparatus comprising inner, intermediate and outer tubular members mounted in spaced concentric relation, a top plate secured to the upper ends of said intermediate and outer tubular members and cooperating to form separate feeder and by-pass chambers at the upper end of said header, :1 bottom plate secured to the lower ends of said outer and inner tubular members and closing the bottom of said chambers, said tubular members co-operating with said bottom plate to provide communication between said chambers at the lower end of said header, said bottom plate having an opening formed therein communicating with the interior of said inner tubular member, said inner tubular member terminating in spaced relation below said top plate to form a discharge passage from said feeder chamber for discharging fluid through said inner tube outwardly from said bottom plate, a by-pass pipe connected with the upper end of said outer tubular member in communication with said by-pass chamber, and vent pipes connected to said header and communicating with said bypass and feeder chambers.

10. A steam vacuum refrigeration unit of the barometric type, comprising an upright cylindrical casing forming a flash tank, spaced transverse partitions in said casing dividing said casing into a plurality of separate compartments arranged one bove another, a plurality of evacuators, one for each compartment, mounted on said casing, a header mounted on one of said partitions in a selected compartment, said header having inner, intermediate and outer tubular members mounted in spaced concentric relation, top and bottom plates secured to said tubular members and cooperating therewith to form a feeder chamber and a by-pass chamber, said tubular members being formed to provide communication at the lower portion of the header between said chambers, said inner tubular member being formed at the upper end to discharge liquid from said feeder chamber into said selected compartment, a liquid inlet connection with the lower end of said outer tubular member for supplying 15 liquid to said header chambers, a' by-pass connection with the upper end of said outer tubular member for conveying liquid from said by-pass chamber to the lower end of said selected compartment, a feeder vent pipe connecting the upper end of said selected compartment with said header and feeder chamber to equalize pressure therebetwecn, a by-pass vent pipe connected to said header communicating with said by-pass chamber at one end and having the opposite end connected to and communicating with another of said compartments for equalizing pressure therebetween, an outlet for liquid connected to said casing and communicating with at least one of said compartments, and a second header means having an inlet connection and having an outlet in said another 'of said compartments, whereby liquid will flow through said compartments and be cooled therein when said evacuators for all of said compartments are in operation,

liquid-from said liquid inlet connection flowing through said header feeder chamber and outwardly into said selected compartment for-cooling therein, and when said evacuator to said selected compartment isrendered in: operative theincrease in pressure will be communicated to said feeder chamber so the difference in pressure between saidselected compartment and said another of said compartments communicated to said by-pass chamber by said vent. pipes will automatically stop the flow of liquid through said feeder chamber and cause said liquid to flow through said by-pass chamber and by-pass connection to the lowerend'of said selected compartment toward said outlet connection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,188,370 McNulty Jan. 30, 1940 an dar- 

